Local farmers look forward to proposed food hub in Canastota, connection with New York City consumers

HAMILTON >> The state has hatched a plan that aims to make it easier and more more profitable for local farmers to market food to customers in New York City.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state will spend $3.6 million to create four new food distribution hubs, in Canastota, Groton in the Finger Lakes region, Kingston in the Hudson Valley and Canton in the North Country, creating 150 jobs and giving farmers new opportunities to get their products to consumers.

The other locations will use the state money to purchase trucks, processing equipment and freezer storage.

One processing site will be constructed in Canastota, said Beth McKellips, director of agriculture economic development at Cornell Cooperative Extension.

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McKellips anticipates many farms will participate in the program; one will be Red Gate Farm in Hamilton. There are about 600 head of cattle on the 730-acre farm that has been a dairy farm since the late-1800s.

The farm is owned by Bruce and Nancy Rivington, who say they moved here from the Ottawa area in 2000 mainly because dairy farming in Canada was becoming less profitable.

The farm is home to Kreimhild Dairy, which in partnership with Queensboro Farm Products produces butter using milk from Red Gate's grass-fed cows.

Rivington is most interested in the distribution aspect of the project.

"It's expensive getting food to New York City," he said. By combining shipments, costs will go down for area farmers.

In Canastota, the food hub processing facility will be constructed at the farm of Paul O'Mara. There, locally-grown produce as well as meats and dairy products will be processed for shipping. Plans to get the food hub up and running will start in late summer or early fall and if all goes as planned, the hub will launch next winter, he said.

"It will be done in phases," Rivington said.

In order to go hand-in-hand with his current Kriemhild Farms Meadow Butter line, Rivington is planning to install his own processing equipment - which could amount to a $600,000 cost - in an effort to help not only himself but other local farmers who wish to sell him milk for his butter.

Setting it up at the farm will take about 5,000 square-feet in one of his buildings and will include storage tanks and pasteurization equipment.

"We are pretty excited to be able to do this," he said. "We want something bigger than we are."

Rivington said he has always had an interest in cows and grass feeding. He believes cows are less stressed in their digestive system if they are grass fed. Year-round his cows roam the meadows at the farm. They have shelter if they want or need, but during the day, if the weather is good, they are in the sunshine.

"Grass is what cows were meant to eat," he said. "Cows were meant to be outside."

He has also read research that suggests that grass-fed cow milk can fight cancer and diabetes.

Of course, he adds that grain-fed cows often fare just as well, and emphasizes that this is just farming philosophy.